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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on February 21, 2020. Jesse Borek provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Whereas Thursday night was an appetizer for the DFS palate, Friday night is the main course. A nine-game slate headlines the unofficial return of what should be a wild and wacky final seven or so weeks of regular season NBA DraftKings play.
There are numerous intriguing developments coming into play Friday that have arisen during the All-Star break. Injuries have paved the way for teammates to see increased roles, as well as the presence of both the Wizards defense and Pelicans offense all in one evening should likely yield numerous pivots and stacks.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/21/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Jrue Holiday - PG/SG, NO @ POR ($7,300)
The showdown between New Orleans and Portland is likely to produce points in bunches. No game is projected for a higher total -- 235.5, as of early Friday morning -- and that means getting in as many fast-paced options as possible. While Lonzo Ball should also draw some consideration, Holiday closed out the first half with three consecutive double-digit assist outings, one of which came against the Blazers. Factor in that Damian Lillard will be absent on the other side of the floor and Portland’s thin backcourt is likely to have difficulty checking Holiday, who has become a matchup problem in the Pelicans’ new starting five.
Donovan Mitchell - PG/SG, UTA v. SA ($6,900)
Mitchell has traditionally excelled against San Antonio throughout his career, entering Friday’s contest averaging 26.8 points across six regular-season meetings, the highest scoring average that he owns against any team in the league. But if previous success isn’t enough of an indication, the absence of Mike Conley (illness) has paved the way for Mitchell to garner some significant interest. In addition to the Spurs having shown little intrigue in slowing him offensively, the additional ball-handling duties should spike Mitchell’s usage for at least one night. He closed out the first half with three showings of at least 23 points, averaging nearly nine three-point attempts per game. The offensive deluge could continue, as the Spurs have yielded the fourth-worst three-point percentage (37.2) to opponents this year.
C.J. McCollum - PG/SG, POR v. NO ($6,600)
Combining the projected pace of Friday’s game versus New Orleans with that of Lillard’s groin injury, McCollum has emerged as an elite DFS play, particularly at the price tag which he is slotted. When the two teams met back on Nov. 19 (a meeting from which Lillard was also absent), McCollum got up 22 points on 22 shots. His other outing this year without Lillard’s services yielded a 37-point, 10-assist showing. In a slate full of uncertainties coming out of the All-Star break, what seems to be as true as the day ending in y is that McCollum is going to get up a pile of shots. New Orleans ranks in the bottom third of the league in defensive efficiency, while boasting the second-highest pace factor (106.1) in the league, all of which should force the short-handed Blazers to funnel the ball to their primary scoring option.
Jaylen Brown - SG, BOS @ MIN ($5,900)
The absence of Kemba Walker (knee) makes the remaining high-end triumvirate of Brown, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward all appealing plays Friday; but Brown stands out as the best of the bench due to his decreased price tag and guard status. In the seven previous contests that the Celtics have played without Walker and had the services of Brown, he has averaged 23 points per game in that span, which puts him in the conversation for reaching value without even factoring in his contributions across the stat sheet. Consider Minnesota’s propensity for pushing the pace (they play at the seventh-fasted adjusted pace) and there should be ample opportunities for Brown to get up not only more shots, but to see more rebounding and ball-handling chances.
Malik Beasley - SG, MIN v. BOS ($5,400)
While Beasley draws the stingy matchup of facing the Celtics, his usage volume upon his acquisition by Minnesota has been staggering. Four of his last six games have featured double-digit three-point attempts, with the final game before the All-Star break seeing Beasley fire up a career-high 25 shots overall en route to a 28-point effort. There is much that has yet to be determined about the Timberwolves moving forward, but for the short-term, there’s little reason to believe that Beasley’s role would be significantly dialed back.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Michael Porter Jr. - SF/PF, DEN @ OKC ($4,800)
Before an ankle injury sidelined him for the final six games of the first half, Porter was looking as if he had finally arrived. A confluence of injuries and increased playing time allowed Porter to showcase his elite skills off the bench, reeling off five double-doubles in a 15-day stretch. Now, he’s back to open the second half. This selection is very much a GPP play, as Denver’s depth presents a significant hurdle to being considered anything nearing a safe play. But with Will Barton (knee) questionable to suit up, there is a chance that Porter sees at least 20 minutes of action, with has yielded 15.2 points and eight rebounds per outing when that has occurred. Should Barton ultimately be ruled active, or a safer play is desired, getting another Pelican in the lineup should be a safe bet and J.J. Redick fits that mold, having reeled off three straight outings with at least 20 points prior to the break.
DraftKings DFS Centers
James Johnson - PF/C, MIN v. BOS ($4,600)
Naz Reid - PF/C, MIN v. BOS ($4,500)
With Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) slated to be sidelined without a return date, both Johnson and Reid find themselves in prime position for DFS attention. The battle against Boston’s frontcourt is far from an appealing proposition, but the price tag of both Johnson and Reid is far below where their respective floors should lie. Johnson has averaged 27.5 DK points over his last three contests, while Reid saw a career-high 22 minutes in the team’s most recent outing Feb. 12. For purposes of picking one, Johnson appears to have carved out a more considerable role for the time being and can be viewed as a more stable selection due to his ability to contribute across the stat sheet if his shot isn’t falling.
